Biography

Education

I graduated from the American Academy in Larnaca in 2007 and pursued undergraduate studies in Psychology (Bachelor of Science) in the United Kingdom at the University of Essex between 2007 and 2010.

After completing my first degree, I continued to a postgraduate and doctoral level and received my Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (DPsych) from the Glasgow Caledonian University in 2014. My doctoral research focused on the identification of helpful and unhelpful therapeutic factors during the treatment of depression and was published at the Counselling and Psychotherapy Research Journal. This study was inspiring to me as it motivated me to constantly search for what helps – and what doesn’t help – each and every one of my clients during therapy.

My doctoral training incorporated humanistic and cognitive-behavioural interventions in a pluralistic context. This means that my work is based on the philosophy that each of us is different, with unique experiential processes, coping strategies and therapeutic needs.  Embracing diversity and building on inherent strengths towards the road to empowerment and recovery is at the heart of what I do.

In 2019 I also completed my diploma in Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy with EMDR Hellas and in 2020 I completed my training in the Comprehensive Resource Model (CRM) with the same institute.

I offer person-centered and cognitive-behavioral therapies, as well as EMDR and CRM in my private clinic.

Clinical Experience

During my doctoral training I had the opportunity to practice as a counselling psychologist trainee in hospitals (NHS), schools, Universities, voluntary organisations and the private sector in the United Kingdom.  My clinical experience includes interventions with anxiety disorders (i.e. social anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, etc.), depression, bereavement / grief / loss, trauma, obsessive-compulsive disorder, self-harm and suicidal ideation, addictions, sexual disorders, bipolar disorder, relationship problems, low self-esteem, bullying, etc.

After successfully completing my Professional Doctorate, I became the Team Leader of the Psychological Service in a non-government organization in Scotland (CEA.), which offers psychological support to people affected by abuse. I also worked at the University of Glasgow in the position of a Counselling Psychologist and Clinical Supervisor.   Upon my return to Cyprus in early 2017, I became a scientific collaborator with private Universities in the position of a lecturer and research supervisor to undergraduate- and postgraduate- level Psychology students.

I currently hold my own private practice in Larnaca, offering face-to-face and online psychological therapy (Person-Centered Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, Comprehensive Resource Model).

Research papers and interests

My research projects up to this date:

• Antoniou, P., Cooper M., Tempier A., & Holliday, C. (2017). Helpful aspects of pluralistic therapy for depression. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 17 (2), 137-147
• Antoniou, P., & Cooper, M. (2013). Psychological treatments for eating disorders: What is the importance of the quality of the therapeutic alliance for outcomes? Counselling Psychology Review, 28 (4), 34 – 46
• Cooper, M., Wild, C., Rijn, B., Ward, T., McLeod, J., Cassar, S., Antoniou, P., Michael, C., Michalitsi, M., & Sreenath, S. (2015). Pluralistic therapy for depression: Acceptability, outcomes and helpful aspects in a mutltisite study. Counselling Psychology Review, 30 (1), 6 – 15
• Cooper, N. R., Puzzo, I., Pawley, A. D., Browes-Mullingan, R. A., Kirkpatrick, E. V., Antoniou, P. A., & Kennett, S. (2012). Bridging a yawning chasm: EEG investigations into the debate concerning the role of the human mirror neuron system in contagious yawning. Journal of Cognitive, Affective and Behavioural Neuroscience, 12 (2), 393-405

Professional Memberships

• Registration certificate of Graduate Psychologist from SEPS (No. 732)
• Registration certificate in Counselling Psychology from SEPS (No. 395)
• Associate Member of the Cyprus Association of Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapists (No. 022)
• Chartered membership with the Division of Counselling Psychology of the British Psychological Society (No. 424153)
• Registered Counselling Psychology practitioner with the Health and Care Professions Council (No. PYL31304)
• License to practice as a Counselling Psychologist in Cyprus from SEPS (No. 17236)
• License to practice as a psychologist in Europe from the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (UK-011965-201702)
• EMDR Hellas Member
• Member of the Cyprus Psychological Association (CYPSA)